My love letter to Mass Effect – Reader’s Feature

A reader explains why he’s such a fan of the Mass Effect trilogy, and why he got so upset at the death of one of the main characters.

Please note: this feature includes a spoiler for Mass Effect 3 (although not the ending).

I’d heard a lot about the Mass Effect trilogy prior to it’s full PlayStation 3 release in December 2012. It was because I’d heard a lot about them that I always held off playing any of the games until the first one was released on Sony’s machine. As I sit here now, wondering what on earth I can begin playing that will even slightly compare to the experience I’ve just had, I can tell you it was worth the wait.

I think what’s helped me with my Mass Effect experience is that barring a short break between the first and second instalments I’ve played through all three games back to back, consuming everything the game world has to offer with no pause for breath. I’ve defeated the rogue spectre Saren, recruited some of the most interesting video game characters I’ve ever met, lost some of those characters during scenes so emotional I felt I’d lost touch with reality and I’ve stood tall against the might of the Reaper invasion. Like devouring a full season of your favourite HBO/ABC drama in a weekend, to say I was invested would be an understatement.

There was a moment during my playthrough of Mass Effect 3 I realised this game series was unlike any other. This is a spoiler, so please be cautious.

Faced with curing the genophage on Tuchanka the Salarian Union leader told me of their plan to sabotage the cure and no doubt once my favourite character, Mordin Solus, discovered something was wrong he would try to fix it so I was to stop him from doing so. I was never going to go through with this but didn’t say anything so as not to incite more unnecessary friction between the Krogan and the Salarians. Towards the end when I confided in Mordin, he looked at me and said, ‘and you knew?’

He proceeded up the tower to make right what he did wrong in creating the genophage and quite touchingly was singing a little song before the explosion took him. I’d not felt sadness like it since the ant was mercilessly slaughtered by that vicious scorpion in Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Is there something wrong with me I thought, as the lump in my throat got bigger and bigger. Is this normal to feel such attachment towards what is a fake member of a fake species living in a fake universe dreamed up by a bunch of (extremely talented) sci-fi nerds? What will my friends and girlfriend think?

I was being ridiculous of course. I’d been invested in this universe and these characters for a hundred hours; the reason we all watch TV series, read books, etc. is precisely for this reason, to get lost in something that takes us away from reality for a short while.

But the aim of this feature isn’t to argue video games are of equal stature to movies and literature when it comes to providing emotional clout. It’s just to show an appreciation of the monumental achievement BioWare have made in combining the emotions and depth of character development found in our favourite TV shows and movies with everything that makes video games so great and distinguished from these other forms of entertainment in the first place, without having the games play out like some sort of interactive movie.

I was lucky enough to experience the ending first time with the extended cut so I didn’t find myself too disappointed, though looking at it without that cut I can understand some gamer’s frustrations. The only thing I find disheartening from forums I’ve read is the amount of folk who now disregard the whole trilogy and even BioWare because of the third game. It’s like they’re pretending the third game is a bad game when if it wasn’t for the masterpiece that was number two, for me it would be the most polished, complete experience of the lot.

So cheers BioWare, for providing me with one the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had. The only disappointment I felt is that it ended at all. And losing Mordin.

By reader Cheddar 83

The reader’s feature does not necessary represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.